Hardware & Technical My button box project

[Viking84]

Kind of - the downside to using BBI-64 boards is that many games can't read all 64 buttons, only the first 32. So I decided to map the switches to virtual joysticks using Joystick Gremlin. That also allowed me to program the toggles to give output when flipped on, and another when flipped down again, and it let me program the controls to flip from the main pilot display to the copilot multi function display in X-Plane.

I will use the same Joystick Gremlin setup for Elite, but probably not bother mapping all the buttons as Elite doesn't really give you direct control of too many systems unfortunately.

 

[Forcit]

Thank you for this.
This will surely come in handy for me the day I want to do something similar.

Enjoy your new toy!

 

[Viking84]

Thanks! Went on my first test flight today, was fantastic being able to flip on the various power switches, start the fuel pumps, flip the main engine switches and then fire up the plane with proper starter buttons. Then spent 10 minutes fiddling with the navigation system and pretty much forgot that I wasn't interacting directly with the real thing.

As an aside, it is complexity and real world depth like this that I sometimes miss from Elite, but I understand that full on sims like X-Plane are a bit of a niche product. Would still love more direct control binding options in Elite though, to be able to toggle various systems on and off.

 

[TorTorden_VR]

Indeed. Very nice work.

I'm starting to realise I'm going to need a button box myself.
Or two.

Considering I would need to buy tools etc.
I might as well build two smaller ones or more.

I also tend to have to build something five times before it becomes somewhat presentable.
Would also be interesting to play with the hall sensor at Leo bodnar.
Either for a rally handbrake or perhaps a diy helicopter collective.
You know those wouldn't be entirely incompatible.

 

[Viking84]

Thanks

I learnt quite a bit during this project, so there are some things I would do differently if I started over. Would have been sensible to start with a smaller box! But the result was still pretty good - and nobody can see the mess of wires inside it

Final touch will be to find some sort of edging to cover the corners, the glued on photo paper is starting to wear a little already around the edges.

 

[TorTorden_VR]

I'm only guessing. But I would imagine the extra size could only be beneficial when you are in vr.

 

[Viking84]

Absolutely - the size as it is is perfect to be honest. But it would have been sensible to start with a simpler project, maybe just 6 buttons and a couple of rotary encoders, for practice Then moved on to this do-it-all design as a second project! Still, it all worked out well in the end, for a gadget nerd like myself this is fantastic.

 

[starman]

Hi all,

thought I'd share this "journey" with you guys I play both Elite and flight sims, and have been looking for the perfect controller that would give me enough inputs to control both the navigation and systems buttons in a smaller aircraft as well as be usable with Elite - mainly for VR in both cases.


The controls needed for Elite should be well known to you all, and for the flight sim I basically need dedicated inputs for a cockpit like this - with the navigation equipment being most critical:

https://imgur.com/z0t91AU.jpg


Now there are companies that make Garmin G1000 simulators but these have two issues - firstly they cost a fortune (£2000+), and secondly they only work with certain specific flight sims and don't show up as joysticks in Windows for binding with other games like Elite. So I quickly discovered that I have to build my own "button box" to do what I want, which is to emulate the inputs of one G1000 screen for use in VR. Here is my first concept:

https://imgur.com/dUcRpmi.jpg


I then started searching for components, and this made it clear that this will not be a cheap undertaking regardless... each dual axis rotary encoder costs £30, single axis encoders cost £7. Anyways I found the components I thought I wanted and created this concept:

https://imgur.com/o99cI9L.jpg


Thankfully I had the sense to order samples of some of the switches as the buttons I had chosen turned out to be horrible! Long spongy action that required lots of force and gave zero feedback... so, back to the drawing board. Turns out that buttons are like everything else, you get what you pay for. So for panel mounted buttons with a nice clicky action it would seem I need to go with NKK MB2400 series buttons, at £3.20 a pop...! This forced another rethink as the first dual-box layout looked rather odd with round buttons, and would have cost nearly £700 just in parts! So I opted for the controls for a single G1000 panel along with some toggle switches for various system power and lights. Oh and two nice red engine start buttons

https://imgur.com/ZTwZaiR.jpg


And that's where I am at the moment. Being an oil & gas engineer I have done what we always do which is create an impossible spec for the item I want and send it out to various suppliers who have experience with building these things. Currently found one company in the UK (un-named until the project gets the go-ahead) who reckon they can build this for a sensible-ish price! If that falls through I will just have to purchase a bit of tooling and build the thing myself. How hard can it be...?

Update #1 - Concept layout

Update #2 - The box and some buttons have arrived

Update #3 - Test of the printed layout

Update #4 - Test drilling

Update #5 - Buttons mounted!

Update #6 - Final product

Yeah I did the same thing with my design for a interstellar space ship. Still waiting for a reply..


Most be people have the same experience when submitting their 'designs' for planning permission from the council.

 

[starman]

Now that Maplin is closed. Where does one satiate there craving to buy a widget. - See other post..


The guys were in total denial right up to the last minute. Claimed they were assets stepped by current investor.


Same for Toys r us. Or as it is no known. Toys w're US

 

[FJRDogMan]

I am delighted to read your project as it is exactly what i would like to build. I can gather the set up from your post and descriptions but would you mind advising the part numbers for the various switches, toggles and encoders you purchased as due to time and distance here in Australia, buying some samples will take forever to accomplish.

MANY thank yous for your time and effort to share the build.